There are times when I need to make quick notes, jot down a reminder or write a notation for later reference.  Sometimes my planner is handy and this remains my number one choice for writing down anything. But, there are times when it is not handy and also not convenient to have my planner on my person.                               

For these times, I have an on the go journal. It is  just a journal and not a planner because no planning goes on in it.  It is simply for thoughts (you know, the ones we get when we have nowhere to write them down),  ideas, notes and everything that needs to be written down so my brain stops thinking about it constantly.

Now,  you can get notebooks in a variety of types and sizes.  Personally, I have found that something around the passport size, like a 3 inch by 4 inch notebook,  is an ideal size for a standard pocket. It can easily slip in and out of your pocket without too much effort.  Additionally,  this size is not so small that you change notebooks every couple of days. It will last for a while depending on the length of your notes, the frequency of use and of course the size of your handwriting.                                                                                                                                                                                           

Additionally, I prefer soft cover notebooks to hard bound notebooks. For me, the bit of extra weight from the hard bound does make a big difference. The hard bound notebook tends to make my pocket sag to one side noticeably. Also,  if you’re worried about support while writing,  the soft cover still provides enough support that reading what I have written is not an issue, neither is writing itself.

Another feature to look for is whether or not the notebook opens like a book or is one that flips up. Once again, this down purely to preference, I find it easier to flip to my page in book format than to flip pages up. It’s that little bit of familiarity that makes it faster to access.

I hope that you have found some useful tips for choosing an on the go journal of a suitable size.  Ultimately I hope that this will give you some ideas and things to look out for when making a decision, if you find yourself with the conundrum of not having easy access to your planner for several hours of the day.